So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

The thread was intended to be a learning tool.

If you are the most accomplished hunter on your hunting grounds.....what make you successful (vs. what the "others" are doing)?

If you aren't.....what are the most successful doing that you aren't? Might be as simple as....."they get to hunt more than I do"....which is valid.

But it's a chance to learn.....SPECIFICALLY.....what makes the same ground.... more fruitful for some.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

The others don't put in much effort and they shoot the 1st legal thing to come by. Plain and simple. There is no worry of scent, figuring out which trails the deer are using more often that season, anything. Plus few of them bowhunt, and our gun season is much more "random" chance. But even in gun season I am killing deer with pistols at 25 yds while they are struggling to even see a deer.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Whenever I talk to the guy who lives on the farm that we hunt, his camo clothes smell like bounce fabric softener.:DThat should give you a clue as to why he doesn't see many mature bucks.

The other guy maybe stays on stand for an hour or so and then he likes to walk around and "sneak up on them". You tell me how he is gonna sneak up a buck with a forest floor covered in crunchy oak leaves!![&:]

Luckily we have our own sections of woods we pretty much stick to. But their stands are always crowding my section. Because that is where all the deer live, according to them.;)

It' pretty simple why I kill more deer than they do. I hunt the parts of the woods they don't.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Like I said in your other thread my dad has always been the man in the woods I hunt. If I knew what he was doing, I'd (be the man)! He's just got that instinct! He knows what he's doing.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Schultzy.....this is the kind of thing I'm trying to break through (generalities). I understand that some people have better woods sense than others (your dad sounds like a perfect example). Granted. But is there anything specific he's doing? Or....does he just simply put himself in the right places on a consistant basis?

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

From the first couple of responses I see that we are equating succes to killing mature deer.

Many of the people that hunt around me,don't care about killing mature deer so they are very succesful according to what they are hunting for enjoyment, to relax and meat.

My father doesn't care if he shoots anything he might be the most succesful of all becasue he gets exactly what he's hunting for. Time with his friends.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Exactly.

I get that, time alone, time with my Saviour and if an arrow leaves my bow, I get the deer I wanted. (If I hit the darn thing[8D])

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Honestly Jeff I'm not sure what seperates the 2 of us. I try hunting the exact way he does and the way he taught me but so far I haven't had the success he has had. I've had some but not as much as he has had. Like I said earlier he just has that big buck instinct built in him. In time I think I'll get it too if I stick to what he taught me but its something one has to earn in time I think. Whatever it is I really envy him in what he does in the woods hunting these whitetails.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

That's good stuff, Schultzy.

Sounds like he knows when, where and how to get it done. "Instinct".......interesting.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

I will never be the man. I couldlearn somethingfrom a guy thats been in the woods 1 day, or 30 years. I think for me its easy to decipher why I consistantly get decent bucks and some of the other guys I hunt with dont. I put hours and hours into pre season scouting includingseveral trail cams and days and days of glassing. They dont do any and have no cameras. Ialso hunt every day possible, last year I was in a stand over 80 days, the others were in stands maybe 20 or 30 days tops. 3 of the guys hunt the same exact stands for weeks, yikes. I move to different stand locations daily,to completely different properties. Even this site gives me tons of new info I learn constatntly, the other guys I hunt with never go to these kind of web sites. Their knowledge comes from TV shows, maybe some magazzinesand whatever info I give them about what bucksIve seen or have pics ofon the property, where they are coming out to feed early season etc. So I guess Jeff, its all about how much time and effort you put into it compared to other guys you hunt with in my case. I wouldbet some of the same guys would kill more deer and bigger bucks consistantly if they hunted as much as did.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Great answer Andy...and don't sell yourself short.

Sounds like there's a reason for your success.;)

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Hunting for me isn't a contest to see who "the man" is. I don't ever need to puff out my chest to stroke some ego thing.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

If he is doing it consistantly there is nothing simple about it. He is keyed into to the deer movements an has done his homework over the years.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Good for you PA.....

If you can't get past the metaphor.....no biggie. Thethreads were posted asa chance to learn what the most successful hunters are doing differently.....and what can be gleaned from their expertise.......instinct.....etc...

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

In one of my spots, I am the man. There is no competition..... literally.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Around here its my father.....we hunt with my cousin for whitetails mostly....I'm sure he's PO'd that my dad has shot more monsters in his shorter more successive hunting career. No secret, we're not willing to shoot smaller/lesser bucks, we kind of have a 150" minium and ideally 10pts going, inside spread at or past ear width. You can't shoot a monster if you shoot small bucks. We certainly don't kill nearly as many deer, bucks/does as most hunters, though if you came into our living room I think you'd be impressed, my dad's 1st bowkill, which was only a few years ago.....was a buck 151" gross 10pt, 1st gun buck years earlier.....155" big typical, dwarfs that 151 surprisingly. then the lucky gun buck same year as the 151 bowkill, was going for a doe....management and this monster walked out, 15pts, 184" 3.5yrs old. My dad has also shot a few does with his bow, our cousin has yet to make a bowkill, he's just bad at it what can I say? no luck, etc....he's a great rifle shot, hunted africa etc...has alot of kills, i think hes more into his collection than shooting real trophies, sure he wants to, but i think he's more the type to brag he got his buck this year....rather than i shot a big buck this year!

Success, first id say ya you cant shoot that big boy if you shoot little ones. management bucks etc....are an exception but I dont think most of us have to worry about all of that stuff. Putting quality time in the woods, scent control, playing the wind,

oh and btw another reason for my fathers success.....i tell him which stand to hunt/where to go, and of course i choose spot #2, maybe I should be a bigger jerk and put him in the 2nd best spots for the day, haha!

But that too, I think alot of hunters are so competative, I do expect to be successfull in the future.....where as some guys I think want to be...or think they never will be, or can only hope....dont hope, expect that big boy! and be ready, no excuses, make it happen! But to my original point, when my dad shoots a monster, im not jealous, maybe envious but I plan for it to happen to me, its just an odds game, and ya when he shoots one i feel like i shot one, kinda like its our deer/trophy, whereas some hunters seem to be mad when their pal wins the shotgun prize.....or shoots the big deer. oh and btw teh cousin did shoot a big typical finally, but with a shotgun, and then the next season he shot 3 small bucks! etc....so being consistent Id say is important too, dont shoot big boy this year and bambi next year, keep your management plan set.....and good luck! course make your own luck.....haha.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

PS- oh ya I'm still the man though! haha.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Although I have not tagged the largest or second largest buck in the woods I hunt, I have tagged the most "good" deer onaconsistent basis.So what seperates me from them?

I'm flexible and I am always scouting.I dont get locked into specific areas or specific tresstands and ride them out yearafter year unless they are consistently working. If something isnt working, I adjust, I move. I have 9 treestands that go up before each season but by the time the season has closed, I have cut brush and constructed I bet 20+ ground blinds all over the turf I hunt in addition to the treestands. My successwith good buck sightingshas increased so dramatically since I adopted the run and gun, natural ground blind appraoch that I kick myself for not doing it earlier. Being eye to eye with a mature buck at 15 yards with nothing but grass and sumac between us is an unbeatable rush.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

One thing that sets great hunters apart from OK hunters is their thirst for knowlege about the game they persue. Along with this is their retention of this knowlege and how it is applied.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Want to be "The Man" ? Scout hard. Harder than anyone else. Learn your equipment. Practice until you can hit bulls in your sleep. Learn your prey. Nkow them better then you know yourself. Think about it 24/7 365. Always look for another way to tip the oods in your favor another 1/2 %. Learn from your mistakes the first time. After doing all this you have made a good start.
Most aren't willing to do this. Most will never be the man.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

One post isn't good enough on this subject huh? Just another one in the count I guess.
Whatever

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

AmI REALLY being chased around the board andberated by a guy that got BANNED from the site for arguing a camo pattern?

REALLY???

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

WHAT?! I thought that all I had to do was show up and walk 20 yards in from the road, set up my stand just anywhere and assume a big buck will come strolling through whistling it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood? LOL

I'm already picking up on the rubs and scrapes and I plan to learn even more this year through a lot of scouting beginning in August. It's going to put a crunch on the gas tank but it has to be done. My buddy who's been hunting for years still amazes me when I'm following behind and trying to keep up and how fast he spots a broken twig with a scrape next to it. I'm hoping that I will be able to pick this ability up somewhere along the way.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Not me, you must be speaking of someone else. I don't argue stupid stuff. I'm outta here, see ya:D

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

I said in the other thread that my brother and dad always had a leg up on me. However, since I started doing my homework (scouting, keeping detailed records of my hunts, applying knowledge learned to present hunts) I can see myself becoming a more succesful hunt. Of course, I share my findings and info. with them also so it evens out.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Yeah, it is good for me! I'm well past your metaphor. I understand some guys need constant attention and find a need to beat their own drum.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

How does that Brad Paisley song go? Oh, oh yeah "I'm sooo much cooler on-line"

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Who's Brad Paisley? Is he"the man"?

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

If you are really trying to find out what makes 'success' as it apears to be defined here Greg and Magicman put it well.

Live whitetail, spend every spare moment watching/scouting/hunting deer. Know them beyond what is known by average hunters. Have complete confidence in your equipment and shooting ability. I spent almost all of my free time in the woods between the ages of 12 and 20.

The thing is, most people dont love deer enough to do this and I dont blame them. It is not, nor should be, for everyone. You can enjoy hunting without going all out. Its really about what you are hunting for...and generally its not about a record book or desire for accolades for those hard core hunters. Its about the deer and themselves.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

No not at all, he's just some country singer. On-line is a pretty cool song. He's pretty popular though. I guess you don't ever listen to country? lol

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Not what it was all about, not even close. Better check with your insider for the unbiased facts there bro.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Whatever it was....I'm sure you're proud, Rick.

Tell me....what purpose are you really serving coming into every thread I start with this stuff? I stated what I was seeking to find out. If you don't like the content.....or even the thread starter......exercise your right and just click over it.

Please.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

I didn't throw the first stone you did but I'll end it right here and now. Over and done.

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Does it really matter ... ?

Who's da man , I'm da man , You da man , He da man or the Da man wanna be . when it comes down to it in God's eyes were all created equal. ;)

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

Schultzy is right about instinct.....Instinct is the main ingredient....Instincts come from many years of experience...knowing what to do next without much thought based on your past experiences....

Instinct also comes from an ingredient we were all born with since the beginning of time....when man had to go out and search for food to survive...Its in our blood to be providers...and the women stay home to tend..

I think the reason more women go out to provide now is because of a drive for success in life and to be prosperous(technology, etc) ...where the H%LL am I going with this...

well..you know what I mean....some people just have a knack for the wild...its a fact....Shultzys dad has it...and so do my uncles who taught me......

RE: So if you are or aren't "the man"
 

This is one of the most intelligent posts I've seen in quite a while. And 100% spot on. Judging by your avatar, you practice what you preach;)